XIV The Redeemer Gods
The sun was the first source of energy human life had, until mankind was able to kindle fire itself.
Many solar deities like Mitra also have been worshipped as fire gods.
The discovery of fire gave mankind an immense advantage in controlling the world.
Plato and Aristotle deemed sun worship as rational to some extent, although they were more sceptic to popular religiosity in general.
Solar deities like Salvitri and Mitra tend to be born shortly after the winter solstice. Herodot already knew about Mitra. Plutarch tells us that persian pirates brought the Mitra cult to Sicily.
Jesus' life is somewhat typical for the life of a solar deity. Birth around winter solstice, resurrection around spring equinox.
For Egyptians, the sun was the celestial father. This is underlined by some obelisk dragged into the Circus Maximus at Rome.
Jesus is just the same old sun god in a new dress.
XV Jesus Christ Is a Solar Myth
Dupuis derived the general pattern of the biography of solar deities like Jesus from astronomical observations, esp. solstices and equinoxes, and so on. Solar cult prevails in modern Christianity as well. Jesus is the lamb of God, akin to the significance of Easter, usually celebrated during the passage of the sun through the zodiacal sign of Aries. Origenes justified sun worship for its symbolic reason. Tertullian admits that Christian resurrection is akin to the Mitraic counterpart.
The portuguese term for sunday (domingo) derives from Latin dominus.
Mani and Satornil identified the sun as the Christ and true home of the soul.
The church tried to hide the fact that Jesus is just yet another solar deity after a long struggle.
2007-11-22 20:17:15 · 9 answers · asked by Life goes on... 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Christianity has long been shown to be a spin-off of the many Mystery Religions of the ancient Greco-Roman world. Egypt, Babylon, Greece and Rome had strong influences in the writing of both Biblical Testaments and especially in moulding the Christ Story.
2007-11-22 20:59:06 · answer #1 · answered by Tuxedo 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm glad it makes sense to you.
People have always been free to think their own thoughts, so think on! But just because it makes sense to you, don't assume that it makes sense to others, or that you have stumbled across some profound Truth.
There are plenty of relevant comments on what you have written: for instance nobody knows when Jesus was born. When pagan Europe became Christian their festivals were often translated into Christian ones. In particular the winter solstice is a pretty bleak time, and followed by months of cold dark weather, so what better time to introduce some light by celebrating the birth of the Saviour?
You mention the Portuguese 'domingo', but it has nothing to do with the Sun. It comes from Latin 'dominus' for Lord, and reflects the alternative name for Sunday: 'the Lord's Day'. In Greek, for instance, it is exactly that. The days of the week have traditionally been named after the seven 'planets', that is things in the sky which move. So SUNday, MOONday, MARSday (think of French Mardi), MERCURYday (Mercredi), THOR'sday (Jeudi = Jupiter = Thor), VENUSday (Vendredi), SATURNday.
2007-11-22 22:29:03 · answer #2 · answered by za 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thou hast said it. But try to get most folks to listen? I don't think so! Anyhow, looks like lots of folks including me need a hero to emulate, or (most often) one to worship. A rose by any other name, though its a crying shame about all the killings and other travesties committed in "his" name. Anyhow, peace to you.
2007-11-23 16:19:26 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well in some sense all gods are the same.
- they don't exist, and were invented by people to enhance their power
- they need worship to sustain them
- they are jealous of the other gods who are all 'false'
What you say about the origin of the symbols of the christian church is probably close to the truth, but it doesn't really matter, because it's all rubbish anyway.
2007-11-22 20:30:18 · answer #4 · answered by Justin F 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Ra! Ra!! Ra!!!
Very interesting.
Commendable.
I will read it again and try to absorb it into my old and waning brain.
2007-11-22 20:26:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sun.... Son....
What difference does it make?
He is still entirely hypothetical in any case.
2007-11-22 20:20:42 · answer #6 · answered by Lucid Interrogator 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Lucid!!
2007-11-22 21:26:01 · answer #7 · answered by DK 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you say that solar-cult deities died and were resurrected at the winter solstice. (this is correct).
you then point out that jesus dies and is resurrected at the vernal equinox (also correct).
then you suggest that this is evidence that jesus is a solar deity.
not to me it doesn't.
2007-11-22 20:21:56 · answer #8 · answered by synopsis 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
i wonder if helio would agree. nah.
2007-11-22 20:21:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋